Computer mainboard

ABSTRACT

A computer mainboard ( 1 ), for example for notebook computers, having an integrated graphics component ( 2 ), which has at least one signal output ( 3 ), and at least one connection ( 5 ) for a display unit. A first plug connector ( 4 ) having at least one electrical connection is coupled to the signal output ( 3 ) of the integrated graphics component ( 2 ). A second plug connector ( 6 ) is coupled to the connection ( 5 ) for a display unit. At least one releasable electrical connection component ( 8 ) is provided between the first plug connector ( 4 ) and the second plug connector ( 6 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the priority of German patent applicationNo. 103 44 644.3 filed Sep. 25, 2003, the disclosure content of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a computer mainboard, for example for notebookcomputers, having an integrated graphics component, which has at leastone signal output, and at least one connection for a display unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Production processes in computer technology require a high level ofoptimization in order, on the one hand, to be able to withstand the highquality requirements and, on the other hand, to be able to withstand theprevailing pressure on prices at the same time. This means that not onlyindividual components of a computer system but rather entire computersystems are being manufactured and sold in standardized form. However,unaffected by this, special wishes of a person buying a computer systemmust be taken into account and must remain capable of being implemented.This can then only be achieved, if at all, with a high level of outlayon account of the preceding standardization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide computer mainboards,particularly for notebook computers, in such a manner that, even whenthere is an integrated graphics component in the computer mainboard, thechoice of using such graphics component or alternatively using graphicscomponents other than the integrated graphics component remains open.

This and other objects are attained in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention directed to a computer mainboard, for example fornotebook computers, having an integrated graphics component, which hasat least one signal output, and at least one connection for a displayunit. A first plug connector having at least one electrical connectionis connected to the signal output of the integrated graphics componentand a second plug connector is connected to the connection for a displayunit. At least one releasable electrical connection component isprovided betwween the first plug connector and the second plug connector(6).

In one embodiment of the invention, a computer mainboard, for examplefor a notebook computer, has an integrated graphics component and alsohas a connection for a display unit such as, for example, a monitor or adisplay. The computer mainboard advantageously has the features whichare described briefly in more detail below:

-   1. The integrated graphics component of the computer mainboard has    an output which, for its part, has a video signal that can only be    processed by a display unit.-   2. The integrated graphics component furthermore has an output to    which a graphics raw signal—which cannot be forwarded to a display    unit until it has been processed by a graphics component—is applied.-   3. These outputs from the integrated graphics component are    connected to a plug connector on the computer mainboard and end in    this plug connector.-   4. The connections of the computer mainboard for the display unit    are likewise connected to a plug connector and end in this plug    connector.-   5. In order, then, to pass the graphics signals from the integrated    graphics component to the connections of the computer mainboard for    the display unit, a releasable electrical connection component is    provided between the two plug connectors.

This has the advantage that this connection component may alternativelyinclude, if appropriate, additional graphics components.

In one embodiment of the invention, the releasable connection componentbetween the two plug connectors is implemented in a space-saving mannerby means of a printed circuit board. In this case, the printed circuitboard contains corresponding conductor tracks which forward signals. Ifthe printed circuit board does not contain any further graphicscomponents, the graphics raw signal is expediently not routed anyfurther on the printed circuit board since there is no graphicsprocessing component such as, for example, a graphics processor. Bycontrast, however, the video signals are forwarded to the connectionsfor the display unit using the printed circuit board and the conductortracks situated thereon. In this case, the video output of theintegrated graphics component is not only restricted to a typical videosignal but rather may also have one or more different video signals.These are, for example, a DVI signal, a VGA signal, an S-video signal oran LVDS signal.

The advantageous nature of the invention comes to light, in particular,if the printed circuit board is equipped with a graphics processor.

The graphics processor of the printed circuit board serves, for example,to produce a video signal from a graphics raw signal. To this end, italso has, if appropriate, different features than the integratedgraphics component on the computer mainboard. That is to say the videosignals of the integrated graphics component on the computer mainboardcan, for example, expediently end at the printed circuit board and arenot forwarded since the graphics raw signal of the integrated graphicscomponent on the computer mainboard is supplied, via the printed circuitboard, to the graphics processor situated on the latter. Such graphicsprocessor processes the graphics raw signal and supplies it to the plugconnector that is connected to the connection for a display unit.

When the integrated graphics component on the computer mainboard isused, the video signals are supplied, via the printed circuit board, tothe connections for a display unit. If a graphics component other thanthe integrated graphics component on the computer mainboard is used, theprinted circuit board contains the desired graphics processor, and itprocesses and forwards the graphics raw signal to the connections. Theprinted circuit boards with or without the graphics processor ideallyhave the same external dimensions, and the connections (arranged on theprinted circuit board) to the plug connectors also correspond to oneanother, with the result that one or the other printed circuit board,that is to say with or without the graphics processor, can alternativelybe installed on the computer mainboard by simply being plugged in. It istherefore possible, during final installation, to rapidly satisfy acustomer's wish for a graphics component other than the integratedgraphics component.

This likewise makes it possible, without relatively great expenditure,to offer various graphics components (which are in turn standardized) inconjunction with the printed circuit board and to install them in a veryshort period of time.

The graphics raw signal of the computer mainboard or the integratedgraphics component may also be, for example, a PCI bus signal, an AGPsignal and/or a PCI-E signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to anexemplary embodiment and with the aid of two figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the computer mainboardaccording to the invention when using the integrated graphics componentin the computer mainboard, and

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the computer mainboardaccording to the invention when using a graphics component other thanthe internal graphics component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a computer mainboard 1, on which an integrated graphicscomponent 2 is situated. The integrated graphics component 2 has varioussignal outputs 3. These signal outputs 3 are connected to a first plugconnector 4. The computer mainboard 1 furthermore has connections 5 fora display unit. These connections 5 are connected to a second plugconnector 6 that is situated on the computer mainboard 1. Conductortracks 8 form a releasable electrical connection component between thetwo plug connectors 4 and 6. Conductor tracks 8 are situated on aprinted circuit board 7. This electrical connection component 8 isreleasable since the printed circuit board 7 is plugged into the plugconnectors 4 and 6 and is thereby held on the computer mainboard 1.

In the embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and shows the use ofthe integrated graphics component 2 on the computer mainboard 1, thegraphics raw signal at the PCI bus signal output 3 is not routed anyfurther by the printed circuit board 7.

FIG. 2 shows the same computer mainboard 1 as in FIG. 1, with theprinted circuit board 7 containing a graphics processor 9 which is agraphics component other than the integrated graphics component 2 on thecomputer mainboard 1. For this reason, those signal outputs 3 which, incombination, are generally referred to as video output 10 are notforwarded on the printed circuit board 7. Rather, the video raw signalof the PCI bus signal output 3 is forwarded to the graphics processor 9on the printed circuit board 7.

Once the signal of the PCI bus signal output 3 has been processed in thegraphics processor 9 to form a video signal 11, the video signal 11 isapplied to the output of the graphics processor 9. This signal isforwarded to the second plug connector 6 and from there to theconnections 5 for a display unit.

When the FIGS. 1 and 2 are considered together, the advantageous andthus easy and unproblematic way in which the printed circuit boards canbe exchanged and also the capability of installing and using a furthergraphics component in order to replace or supplement the integratedgraphics component 2 on the computer mainboard 1 come to light.

The scope of protection of the invention is not limited to the examplesgiven hereinabove. The invention is embodied in each novelcharacterictic and each combination of characteristics, which includesevery combination of any features which are stated in the claims, evenif this combination of features is not explicitly stated in the claims.

1. A computer mainboard (1), for example for notebook computers,comprising: an integrated graphics component (2), which has at least onesignal output (3); at least one connection (5) for a display unit; afirst plug connector (4) having at least one electrical connectioncoupled to the signal output (3) of the integrated graphics component(2); a second plug connector (6) coupled to the connection (5) for adisplay unit; and at least one releasable electrical connectioncomponent (8) between the first plug connector (4) and the second plugconnector (6).
 2. The computer mainboard (1) as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one releasable electrical connection component (8)is formed by a printed circuit board (7).
 3. The computer mainboard (1)as claimed in claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board (7) transmitsat least one electrical signal of the signal output (3) of theintegrated graphics component (2) to the connections (5) for a displayunit.
 4. The computer mainboard (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein theprinted circuit board (7) has at least one graphics processor (9), whichprocesses at least one electrical signal of the signal output (3) of theintegrated graphics component (2) and forwards it to said at least oneconnection (5) for a display unit.
 5. The computer mainboard (1) asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the signal output (3) of the integratedgraphics component (2) has at least one video output (10) based on theDVI and/or VGA and/or LVDS and/or S-video standard.
 6. The computermainboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal output of theintegrated graphics component (2) has at least one signal output (3)based on the PCI and/or PCI-E and/or AGP standard.
 7. The computermainboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one connection(5) for a display unit has at least one video output (11) based on theDVI and/or VGA and/or LVDS and/or S-video standard.
 8. The computermainboard (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the printed circuit board(7) transmits the signal of the video output (10) of the integratedgraphics component (2) to the connections (5) for a display unit.
 9. Thecomputer mainboard (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the printedcircuit board (7) has at least one graphics processor (9) and passes thesignal of signal output (3) which is based on the PCI and/or PCI-Eand/or AGP standard to the graphics processor (9), and said graphicsprocessor (9) has at least one video output (11) that is based on theDVI and/or VGA and/or LVDS and/or S-video standard and is connected, bymeans of the printed circuit board (7), to the connection (5) for adisplay unit.